Gun-carriage with endless tracks



E. SCHNEIDER.

GUN CARRIAGE WITH ENDLESS TRACKS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, I919.

Patented Jan. 27,1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

E. SCHNEIDER. GUN CARRIAGE WITH ENDLESS TRACKS.

0 .k 0 B W4 w E M a a a M m n m x ".1 m m m" MP F I n. m fi k Q M m E WEEKS E E. SCHNEIDER. v GUN CARRIAGE WITH ENDLESS TRACKS.

APPLICATION FILED FEI}. 28' I9I9-- Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

E. SCHNEIDER GUN CARRIAGE WITH ENDLESS TRACKS.

. I APPLICATION FILED FEB.28, 1919. 1,328,849.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

E E99. figi liifw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR' TO SCHNEIDER &; CIE.*, OF PARIS,

i FRANCE, A LIMITED JOINT-STOCK COIEPANY OF FRANCE.

GUN -CARRIAGE i/VI'IH ENDLESS TRACKS.

Application filed. February 28, 1919.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E'oeimn SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at 42 Rue dAnjou, Paris, France, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Gun-Carriages with Endless Tracks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to providean improved single-trail gun carriage supportedon endless tracks, and adapted to be capable of pivoting around the trail spade for training.

The essential feature of this lnventlon consists in the means of connection between thegun carriage and the endless tracks, this connection being such as to allow of the trail pivoting around a pivot formed on thetrail spade or on the platform to wh 1ch the trail is anchored, without necessitating any rotation of the endless track trucks around the said pivot. In other words, the gun carriage is so constructed that the trail can be made to describe an arc of a circle around the trail spade, for which purpose the endless track trucks sharing in this movement are capable of moving in a straight line with their endless track chalns or over the latter when these have been previously opened out straight and fixed in place.

For this purpose the trail is journaled 1n the usual manner in a gun mount or pedestal adapted to pivot in a saddle, but according to this invention the vertical pivot of the gun pedestal is made eccentric in 1ts saddle, which latter is itself adapted to rotate in a carriage frame connecting to ether the two endless track trucks. By this means when by suitable movements the trucks are moved in a straight line, and the saddle of the gun pedestal is caused to turn in the carriage frame, it will be merely necessary to produce a suitable rectilinear displacement of the trucks and a suitable annular displacement of the saddle in order to train the gun by rotation around the trail spade.

A constructional form of this invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in vertical cross section, showing the gun carriage in the firing position.

Fi 2 is a horizontal section on the line II'II of Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'J an. 27, 1920.

Serial No. 279,874.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line III-III of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 show details in sections.re-. spectively on the lines IVIV and VV of Fig. 1, illustrating a particular constructional form of the pivotal joint between the trail and the anchor platform.

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively, avertical. longitudinal section and a plan of a modified form of the pivotal joint connecting the trail to the anchor platform.

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively an end viewv and a section on the line IX IX of Fig. 8 of a detail drawn to a larger scale, ofthe. mechanism for operating the trucks and the gun carriage saddle for altering the train-. ing of the gun.

Fig. 10 is a partial section similar to Fig. 9 showing the parts in another position.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic plan partlyin horizontal section showing the gun carriage in condition for transport.

The trail A in which the cradle B carr'ys ing the gun barrel C is journaled in the usual manner is in its turn journaled by means of a journal D in an upper. gun mount or pedestal E. This pedestal E is adapted. to rotate by means of a vertical pivot pin E in a footstep bearing F formed by an eccentric lodgment provided in a circular saddle G. The latter is adapted to rotatev in a circular lodgment H formed in the center of a carriage frame I which stays together the two trucks J and K, of the endless tracks.

When the gun carriage is in firing position (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), the trail A is arranged in the longitudinal axis. of the, car-. riage I, that is to say, at right angles to the endless tracks. The trail is jointed on a. pivot formed on a platform Iisuitablyane chored to the ground. For firing, the gun carriage may be kept resting upon the ,un-.. opened track chains, that is to say, the latter retain their position for traveling. Also, as assumed in Figs. 1 to 3, the endless track chains may be opened out so as to then form a fixed rolling track for the gun carriage in its movements around the trail spade for. training purposes. In order to fix the chains in place, they may be connected together-attheir ends by stay rods M and the inner. chain may be connected tothe platform L by means of tie-rods N.

The rectilinear motion of the trucks J, K

over the opened-out chains, together with the rotation of the saddle G in its lodgment H, may be effected by means of a single actuating mechanism.

On the axles 0 of the toothed wheels 0 for driving the chains carried by the trucks J and K, there are fixed pinions P connected by pitch-chains Qto pinions R mounted loose on a common shaft S and which may be formed by an extension of the guiding wheels T of the endless track chains. On the square parts s formed at each end of the shaft S, there are mounted hand cranks U which may be engaged in one or the other of the positions shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The hub of each of the cranks U has teeth a capableof being engaged in the spaces between corresponding teeth r projecting from the side face of the pinion R. In the position shown in Fig. 9, the crank U is engaged with the pinion R, and is locked in this position .by a spring boltU entering a corresponding socket 8 formed in the square part 8 of the shafi. This square part has another socket 8 into which the bolt U is engaged when it is desired to lock the crank in the position in which it is disengaged from the pinion R; this position is shown in Fig. 10.

Upon the shaft S there is fixed a bevel wheel V meshing with a bevel pinion w fixed on one end of a shaft W journaled in the carriage frame I and carrying at a point in its length a worm w meshing with teeth 9 formed on the saddle G.

If the pinions R are actuated by means of the cranks U that have been previously moved into engagement, this drives through the chains Q and the pinions P, the axles o and consequently the toothed wheels 0 that roll over theendless track chains. The trucks J and K are thus caused to move in a straightline in the desired direction. At the same time the trail A is enabled to rotate around its anchorage'owing to the anguiar.

displacement of the saddle G which is imparted to the latter by means of the gearing Vu-V w g. In this movement the distance between the axis of the pivot E and the axis of pivotation around the anchorage remains practically constant, at least for an extent of training which is amply sufiicient. That is, during the rectilinear movement of the carriage I, the pivot E eccentrically journaled in the saddle G rotatable in said carriage, follows the arcuate travel of the front end of the trail as the latter revolves around the constant pivotal anchorage at its rear end, and at the same time the functional connection between the trail and carriage remains unaffected.

For the purpose of placing the gun into condition for traveling, the trail is disengaged from its anchorage, and is brought by rotating the pivot E into a position parallel to the trucks J and K. Then by engaging the cranks U in the position shown in Fig. 10, the saddle G alone is actuated in such a manner as to bring the lodgment F of the pivot E into the position shown in Fig. 11, that is to say, at an equal distance from both trucks. Y

The invention comprises a peculiar means of connection between the carriage 'trail and the anchoring platform, and also peculiar construction of the latter, both which arrangements allow of the support for the endless track chains, and the trail platform assuming different levels during the firing without injury to the journaling of the gun pedestal E in the platform G and the journaling of the latter in the carriage frame I.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, a and the trail tail A consists of a block pivotaily jointed to the end of the trail around a pivot a whose geometrical axis is situated in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the trail and constitutes one of the axes of a universal joint between the trail and the anchoring platform L. The other axle pin a of the universal joint is carried by two bearings X capable of turning in two guides curved to the arcs of a circle mounted on the platform L. This platform has preferably a concave or dish-like shape for the purpose of assuring a suitabie inclination of the trail A and the provision of a support for the end of the trail tail. The strains due to firing can then be taken by the platform L in all positions of training. For this purpose the trail tail A is terminated by a head having the form of a spherical se ment a which in all positions bears against a socket or stop L of corresponding spherical shape formed on the platform The retention of the trail A upon the trail tail A in the movements around the pivot a may be assured by means of a retaining device a (Figs. 1 and 4).

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and- 7, auniversal joint is provided directly between a sphericai trail tail head A fixed to the trail A and socket or lodgment L of corresponding spherical shape formed on the platform L. To allow of placing the trail tail head A into and removing the same from the lodgment L the latter is made in two parts L and L pivot-ally hinged together. If is a cap connected by a hinge L to the lodgment L and is adapted to be raised or fixed in the folded position shown in the figures by engaging or removing a fastening pin L into and out of a block carried by the hinge and a lug L formed the body of the platform.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a gun-mounting, a rectilinearly movable carriage, trail, a constant pivotal anchorage for the tail of the trail, and a variable pivotal connection between the front end of'the trail and the carriage to follow the travel of the trail front end as the trail changes its angularity around the constant pivotal anchorage during the rectilinear movement of the carriage.

2. In a gun-mounting, a rectilinearly mov: able carriage, a rotatable element on the carriage, a trail, a constant pivotal anchorage for the tail of the trail, and a support fo the front end of thetrail'journaled in the rotatable element eccentric to the axis thereof to follow the arcuate travel of said front end as the trail changes its angularity around the constant pivotal anchorage during the rectilinear movement of the carriage.

3. In a grim-mounting, a rectilinearly movable carriage, a saddle journaled in the carriage, a trail, a constant pivotal anchorage for the tail of the trail, and a pedestal pivoted to the front end of the trail journaled in the saddle eccentric to the aXis thereof to follow the arcuate travel of said front end as the trail changes its angularity around the constant pivotal anchorage during the rectilinear movement of the carriage,

4. In a gun-mounting, a movable carriage, means for propelling the carriage in a rectilinear direction, a rotatable element on the carriage, a trail, a constant pivotal anchorfor the tail of the trail, a support for the front end of the trail journaled in the rotatable element eccentric to the axis thereof, and means for driving the carriage propelling means'and the rotatable element in synchronous relation so that the support for the front end of the trail Will follow the arcuate travel of the front end of the trail as the latter changes its angularity around the constant pivotal anchorage during the rectilinear movement of the carriage.

5. In a gun-mounting, a movable carriage, means for propelling the carriage in a rectilinear direction, a saddle journaled in the carriage, a trail, a constant pivotal anchorage for the tail of the trail, a pedestal pivoted to the front end of the trail and journaled in the saddle eccentric thereto, and means for driving the carriage propelling means and rotating the saddle in synchronous relation so that the pedestal Will follow thearcuate travel of the front end of the trail as the latter changes its angularity around the constant pivotal anchorage during the rectilinear movement of the carriage.

6, In a gun-mounting, a rectilinearly movable carriage, alined trucks supporting the carriage, a track-chain in driving connection With the alined trucks and forming a tread therefor, mechanism for driving the track-chain to propel the trucks to move the carriage, a rotatable element on the carriage, a trail, a support for the front end of the trail journaled in the rotatable element age during the rectilinear movement of the carriage.

7. In a gun-mounting, a rectilinearl'y,

movable carriage, alined trucks supporting the carriage, a track-chain in driving connection With the alined trucks and forming a tread therefor, mechanism for driving the track-chain to propel the carriage, a saddle journaled in the carriage, a trail, a constant pivotal anchorage for the tail of the trail, a pedestal pivoted to the front end of the trail and j ournaled in the saddle eccentric thereto, and means for actuating the track-chain driving mechanism and for rotating the saddle in synchronous relation so that the front end trail support will follow the arcuate travel of the trail front end as the trail changes its angularity around the constant pivotal anchorage during the rectilinear movement of the carriage.

8. In a gun-mounting, a movable carriage, a trail connected at its front end With the carriage, and a pivotal anchorage for the tail of the trail comprising a platform, meansfor securing the platform in place, a block detachably mounted at its front end on the rear end of the trail and said block having on its rear end a spherical bearing, means for pivoting the block intermediate of its ends to the platform, and a spherical bearing socket on the platform to receive the spherical bearing on the rear end of the block.

9. In a gun-mounting, a movable carriage, a trail connected at its front end with the carriage, and a pivotal anchorage for the tail of the trail comprising a platform, means for securing the platform in place, a block having on its rear end a spherical bearing and pivoted at its front end on the rear end of the trail so as to be rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the trail, means for pivoting the block intermediate of its ends to the platform, and a spherical bearing socket on the platformto receim the spherical bearing on the rear end of the block.

10. In a gun-mounting, a movable carriage, a trailconnected at its front end With the carriage, and a pivotal anchorage for the tail of the trail comprising a platform, means for securing the platform in place, a block having on its rear end a spherical bearing and pivoted atits front end on the rear end of the trail so as to be rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the trail, said block being pivoted intermediate of its ends to the platform so as to be movable in both horizontal and vertical directions, and a spherical bearing socket on the platform to'receive the spherical bearing on the rear end of the block.

11. In a gun-mounting, a movable carriage, a trail connected at its front end with the carriage, and a pivotal anchorage for thefitailof the trail comprising a platform,

meansjfor securing the platform in place, a Iblock-having at its rearlend spherical bearing and detachably pivoted) at itsfront end on the rear end of the trail so as to be rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the trail, a horizontal pivot for the block, bearings for the pivot horizontally movable on the platform, and a spherical hearing' socket on' the platform to receive the spherical bearing on therear end of the block.

In testimony whereof I have signed this 20 specification. a I v EUGENESCHNEIDER. 

